Protective support for corns, bunions, toe overlaps, etc.



Nov. 30, 1943. l. R. GoLDMERsTElN 2,335,665

PROTECTIVE SUPPORT FOR CORNS, BUNIONS, TOE OVERLAPS, ETC

Filed Aug. 29, 1942 .....Q QQ uw... ,QQ

INVENTOR. aac K-Golame/sez're ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 30, 1943 PROTECTIVE 'SUPPORT FOR CORN S, BUN- IONS, TOE OVERLAPS, ETC.

Isaac R. Goldmerstein, New York, N. Y.

Application August 29, 1942, Serial No. 456,623

(Cl. 12S-153) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a support to protect a foot from coms, bunions, overlapping of the toes, to correct foot abnormalities and make it possible to Wear shoes of hard leather and the like comfortably.

More particularly, the invention contemplates a support of cloth, leather or the like material for engaging ones foot adjacent the skin and having toe portions for engaging the toes, and a pad or other object mounted on said support and adapted to act as a protector, or shield, or lift for engaging one or more areas of the foot.

Another feature of the supporting device is that it is easily applied and removed from the foot without requiring that it be glued or tied in place. The engagement of the toes of the foot with the toe portions of the device act to retain it stationarily in position and maintain the pads always in the same place.

Many of the foot ills of people are caused by points of pressure from the shoe against the foot. Other troubles are caused by abnormalities, such as some of the toes projecting too high, or toes overlapping, or other causes. The present invention is adapted to relieve and cure a great many of the present day foot ills and assist small childrens feet in growing properly.

In so far as corns, callouses and the like are concerned, which are caused by shoe pressures, it is proposed to mount the protecting pads or other objects on the cloth support at a point or points so as to protect and relieve the pressure. Nature is then depended upon to do the curing. In those cases where toes project upwards or overlap, the invention contemplates the provision of a pad or shield or other thing for pressing and holding the abnormality in a more normal condition. Nature is then depended upon to remedy the defect.

Shoes are normally tight in some places and in other spots there are'spaces between the walls of the shoe and the sides of the foot, however, there is always suilicient space between the shoe and the foot to permit a supporting device according to this invention to be worn and the pads will cause the walls of the shoe to be shaped to conform with the shapes of the foot.

The invention contemplates various modied forms for attaching the pad upon the cloth support. Incne form of the invention stitches are used for this purpose; in other pockets, are small projections which are capable of engaging the meshes 0f the cloth support for gripping the same.

The invention also proposes various modified forms in so far as the cloth support is concerned. In one form, the toe portions thereof are closed. In another form, they are open; in other forms the cloth support partially or entirely extends over various areas of the foot.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a foot provided with a foot supporting device constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective detailed view of the foot protecting device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom view looking in the direction of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a foot provided with a foot protecting device constructed in accordance with another form of this invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the protecting device shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a schematic view of another foot provided with another foot protecting device embodying another form of this invention.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line I U--Hl of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view of a foot provided with still another foot protecting device constructed in accordance with another form of this invention.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line |2-I2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a schematic view of a foot provided with still another foot protecting device constructed in accordance with still another form of this invention.

Fig. 14 is a view looking in the direction of the line I'4-I4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line |5-I5 of Fig. 14.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs.

1-5, the foot protecting device for corns, bunions and the like comprises a cloth support I5 of material usually used in gloves or socks and being plain or for engaging ones foot and located adjacent the skin and having toe portions I6. These toe portions are open in the front so that the toes of the foot project. A pad I'I is mounted on the support I5 and is adapted to act as a protector or shield for engaging against a bunion or other foot defects. Other things are also mounted on the cloth support I5 for correcting other abnormalities. pads I8 are mounted between the toe portions of the cloth support I5 and are adapted to force the toes apart in those cases where they overlap. These pads I8 are merely illustrative, as any number of different kinds and shapes of pads or protectors, or lifts, or shields may be employed. The pads I8 may be in the form of props placed between the toes with one end on the sole and the other propping the shoe leather higher than the toes. These props are secured to the support I5 to prevent them from shifting.

An elongated pad 46 is mounted along the bottom face of the four small toe portions to slightly raise the four small toes when the protector is worn.

In so far as the pad I'I is concerned it is held in place by several resilient conical shaped projections I9. The pad II is formed from a layer of resilient material 2U, padding 2| and a cloth casing 22. The resilient pad 26 is provided with the projections I9. Each projection I9 is hollow. A removal plug 23 is mounted through openings 24 in the back of the casing 26 and engages into the hollows of the conical projections I9 for stiffening and hardening them. When the foot protector is worn the projection I9 extends upwards through the mesh of the cloth support I5 and so the pad. maintains its position. In the event that the projections IS! cause discomfort the plugs 23 may be removed. The projections I9 will then not engage the mesh as securely but there will be no irritation.

' Inv Figs. 6-8 a modified form of the invention is disclosed in which the foot protecting device for corns, bunions and the like, comprises a cloth support 25, preferably of mesh material or other material generally used for gloves. This support is for'engaging the front of the foot. It is intended to be located adjacent the skin. It is provided with a plurality of toe portions 26 which are intended to encase the toes. A pocket 2'! is sewed upon an area of the support 25 at a location at which protection is desired. This pocket 2T is secured in position by the stitches 28. It has an open side 29 into which a pad or other protecting device may be engaged therein.

In Figs. 9 and 10 still another form of the invention is disclosed in which the foot protecting device includes a cloth support 36 which extends from the toes to the heel of the foot. This sock is provided with closed toe portions 3i. A pad 32 is secured at a desirable location by the stitches 33. In other respects this form of the invention is identical to the previous form and like parts are identified by like reference numerals.

In Figs. 11 and l2 still another form of the For example, cylindrical invention is disclosed in which the foot protecting device includes a cloth support 34 extending from the toes to the ankle. This sock is provided with closed toe portions 35. A pad 36 is attached by stitches 31 to an area of the sock 34 for acting as a protector.

In Figs. 13 to 15 still another form of the invention is disclosed in which the foot protecting device includes a cloth support 45 in the nature of a continuous band adapted to engage the foot immediately over the back ends of the toes. A plurality of separate cloth toe engaging portions 46 are provided and have their back ends inserted into the band 45. There is a toe engaging portion 46 for each of the toes of the foot. Contacting side portions of the toe engaging portions 46 are connected by stitches 41. The outer sides of the outermost toe engaging portions 46 are attached to the side portions of the band 45 by means of stitches 48.

While the toe engaging portions 46 of this latter form of the invention do not have any pads the application of such pads is possible to protect corns or other toe ailments if such pads should be found desirable.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A foot protecting device for corns, bunions, overlapping toes, to correct foot abnormalities and make possible the weaving of shoes of hard leather, etc., comprising a support of cloth, leather or the like material for engagingones foot adjacent the skin and having one or more toe portions for engaging the toes, and a pad mounted inside or outside on said support and adapted to act like a protector or shield or lift for engaging areas of ones foot, said support being of mesh material, and said pad being provided with resilient projections engaging the mesh for maintaining the position of the pad, each of said resilient projections being hollow', and removable resilient plugs mounted within said hollows.

2. A foot protecting device for corns, bunions,A

overlapping toes, to correct foot abnormalities and make possible the wearing of shoes of hard leather, etc., comprising a support of cloth, leather or the like material for engaging ones foot adjacent the skin and having one or more toes portions for engaging the toes, and a pad mounted inside or outside on said support and adapted to act like a protector or shield or llift for engaging areas of ones foot, said supporty being of mesh material, and said pad being provided with resilient projections engaging the mesh for maintaining the position of the pad, each of said resilient projections being hollow, and removable resilient plugs mounted within said hollows, said projections and plugs being of conical shapes.

ISAAC R. GOLDMERSTEIN, 

